14th Jun 2017, 3:59 PM – Senate Motions - Communications by Post - Remove extra fee for post

The majority voted in favour of a motion moved by Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart (Labor) be agreed to.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the rapid increase in the use of electronic communication technology in recent decades, including in commerce,

(ii) that access to electronic communication technology differs between Australians, and is often related to income, age, education level and remoteness,

(iii) that not all Australians have the skills and infrastructure to communicate effectively via electronic channels,

(iv) that many businesses, including banks, telecommunications companies and utilities, charge consumers an extra fee to receive communications via post, and

(v) that often the fee charged by companies to receive communications by post is intended as a disincentive, and does not represent the actual cost incurred by the company; and

(b) calls on the Government to bring forward legislation that will give consumers the right to receive communications from companies by post for no extra fee.